Please take a few minutes to complete the class survey at the following link:
http://www.keysurvey.com/survey/204719/b96f/
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Take-home final
Take-home final
1. Compare and contrast three world religions that we covered in class.
2. Discuss some of the factors that constitute power, using real world examples if possible.
3. Discuss some of the roles international organizations play in today’s world, citing specific examples.
4. Do you think America is exercising its global leadership role in a responsible manner? Explain.
5. What is meant by the term “sovereignty" in relation to a state’s leadership?
6. What is Freedom House?
7. Why are democracy and a nation’s wealth closely correlated?
8. What is the World Trade Organization?
9. What are some tips for conducting effective or promising diplomacy?
10. Does the European Union have a promising future? Why or why not? (This is opinion, but briefly support your position).
True/False
Please write the word “True” or “False” in the left margin next to each statement.
11. In politics, issues are rarely linked.
12. Anarchy refers to a nation that is completely dependent on other countries.
13. Constructivists believe that states are the key actor in international politics.
14. In a bipolar state system, a single state always sets the rules of the game.
15. Proponents of globalization generally endorse high transnational taxes and tariffs.
16. The democratic peace thesis contends that democracies rarely fight one another.
17. The EU has a commission and a General Assembly.
18. The Bush doctrine endorses preemptive strikes.
19. The power of terrorists to mobilize is constantly increasing.
20. Public diplomacy often relies heavily on propaganda.
Multiple Choice
Please select the correct answer to the following questions.
21. All of the following are characteristics of the Bush doctrine except
endorses America’s right to lead
supports preemptive strikes
believes in deterrence at all costs
was used to justify recent strikes in Afghanistan and Iraq
22. The United States is known globally for its
unwillingness to endure death of its own
lack of respect for United Nations’ decisions
popular celebrity culture
all of the above
23. The modern nation-state was established under which of the following:
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Westphalia
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Rome
24. Fungibility means
Changeability
Containment
Appeasement
Democratization
25. Which of the following best describes the concept of power?
using one’s assets to affect events
purely tangible concept
purely intangible concept
communicating with the enemy
Short answer: in a paragraph or two, please answer each of the following:
26. When and how do you think the United States’ hegemony will end? Is there any way the United States can preserve its unipolar moment?
27. What are the three levels of analysis used to study global politics and who are the actors at each level?
28. What are some problems aggravated by or brought on by globalization?
29. What are some opportunities that globalization opens up?
30. What is realism and is it a viable theory?
31. Which individual level theory best explains world politics, in your opinion? Why?
32. Does globalization weaken or strengthen state power? How so?
33. What should be done about the immigration issue in the United States? Why?
34. What quality or qualities does our next president need, in your opinion?
35. What should the United States do about the current problems in the Middle East?
36. Are you a Democrat,a Republican, or neither? Explain.
37. Do you think it helps or harms the Americans more overall when American companies outsource jobs? Why?
38. What can be done about the rising price of gas?
39. What three world religious denominations do you find most viable and why?
40. Who do you think is the most powerful person living today? Why?
1. Compare and contrast three world religions that we covered in class.
2. Discuss some of the factors that constitute power, using real world examples if possible.
3. Discuss some of the roles international organizations play in today’s world, citing specific examples.
4. Do you think America is exercising its global leadership role in a responsible manner? Explain.
5. What is meant by the term “sovereignty" in relation to a state’s leadership?
6. What is Freedom House?
7. Why are democracy and a nation’s wealth closely correlated?
8. What is the World Trade Organization?
9. What are some tips for conducting effective or promising diplomacy?
10. Does the European Union have a promising future? Why or why not? (This is opinion, but briefly support your position).
True/False
Please write the word “True” or “False” in the left margin next to each statement.
11. In politics, issues are rarely linked.
12. Anarchy refers to a nation that is completely dependent on other countries.
13. Constructivists believe that states are the key actor in international politics.
14. In a bipolar state system, a single state always sets the rules of the game.
15. Proponents of globalization generally endorse high transnational taxes and tariffs.
16. The democratic peace thesis contends that democracies rarely fight one another.
17. The EU has a commission and a General Assembly.
18. The Bush doctrine endorses preemptive strikes.
19. The power of terrorists to mobilize is constantly increasing.
20. Public diplomacy often relies heavily on propaganda.
Multiple Choice
Please select the correct answer to the following questions.
21. All of the following are characteristics of the Bush doctrine except
endorses America’s right to lead
supports preemptive strikes
believes in deterrence at all costs
was used to justify recent strikes in Afghanistan and Iraq
22. The United States is known globally for its
unwillingness to endure death of its own
lack of respect for United Nations’ decisions
popular celebrity culture
all of the above
23. The modern nation-state was established under which of the following:
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Westphalia
Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Rome
24. Fungibility means
Changeability
Containment
Appeasement
Democratization
25. Which of the following best describes the concept of power?
using one’s assets to affect events
purely tangible concept
purely intangible concept
communicating with the enemy
Short answer: in a paragraph or two, please answer each of the following:
26. When and how do you think the United States’ hegemony will end? Is there any way the United States can preserve its unipolar moment?
27. What are the three levels of analysis used to study global politics and who are the actors at each level?
28. What are some problems aggravated by or brought on by globalization?
29. What are some opportunities that globalization opens up?
30. What is realism and is it a viable theory?
31. Which individual level theory best explains world politics, in your opinion? Why?
32. Does globalization weaken or strengthen state power? How so?
33. What should be done about the immigration issue in the United States? Why?
34. What quality or qualities does our next president need, in your opinion?
35. What should the United States do about the current problems in the Middle East?
36. Are you a Democrat,a Republican, or neither? Explain.
37. Do you think it helps or harms the Americans more overall when American companies outsource jobs? Why?
38. What can be done about the rising price of gas?
39. What three world religious denominations do you find most viable and why?
40. Who do you think is the most powerful person living today? Why?
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Midterm and Final Research Paper descriptions
Paper 1--midterm research paper
Midterm Research Paper: Due at the beginning of class 5
This is your opportunity to research how a foreign country relates to the world. You are to explain what drives the international relations policies of your selected country. How does your selected country view its position (for example: pro-Western, socialist, Islamist, neutral) in the world? How does your country understand the theories of and participate in international relations? What are the political, cultural, economic and historical values that have contributed to its current international relations position? Your purpose is not to determine whose “side” your country is on but to understand and explain why your country has its particular international relations position. More specifically: you are building a case to explain why your selected country takes the position in international relations it does on particular issues. You are not just stating what those positions are.
Begin by selecting a country that interests you. Perhaps it is one that you have traveled to or would like to travel to. Since not all countries are concerned about all international issues, you will need to determine what world issues your country cares about. You will be providing these positions later in your paper. It is your job to present the motive of your selected country for taking those positions from its perspective. You are presenting the “why” of the case such that if you present your case well, it will seem obvious, given the characteristics of your selected country, that it would take the positions it has. You may find yourself disagreeing with the actions and positions of the country you are studying, but this is not a critique of what is right or wrong from your perspective, so you want to be careful to keep such commentary out of your paper. You are only interested in providing the reasons your selected country has for doing what it
does, whether you agree with these reasons or not.
This paper takes planning, and it will be well worth taking the time to outline your arguments before writing. I suggest that you consider many academic sources before writing. Be careful with your sources: Wikipedia, newspaper stories, and country websites, while helpful for introductory purposes, don’t provide the substantive analytical content that your paper requires.
The paper should be 3-4 pages long, 12-point font, typewritten, and double-spaced, and must include citations to all references used. Please use APA format and cite 4-5 sources. Failure to include in-text citations will result in the deduction of ten points from your grade on this paper. Also, please use only third person pronouns.
Paper 2--Final Research Paper
Final (Second) Research Papers (a WIC paper): Due at the beginning of class 10
You should take a position on an international political topic and support this position. Essays should be focused and well-organized. Use several sources: books, journals/magazines, newspapers, the internet, and cite them in APA format. Please avoid using all first- and second-person pronouns. Here is a possible way of organizing your paper.
I. Introduction with thesis, i.e. your main argument
II. Historical Background/Context
III. Your argument, with examples/cases and/or logical reasoning to back up your points
IV. Counter-arguments: write as if critiquing your own argument to locate flaws and opposing points
V. Synthesis/Conclusion: Answer potential criticism. Explain the final points of your argument. What have you learned? What has your paper explained?
This paper should be 3-4 pages long and you should cite 4-5 different sources. Be sure to include in-text citations, or 10 points will be deducted.
Midterm Research Paper: Due at the beginning of class 5
This is your opportunity to research how a foreign country relates to the world. You are to explain what drives the international relations policies of your selected country. How does your selected country view its position (for example: pro-Western, socialist, Islamist, neutral) in the world? How does your country understand the theories of and participate in international relations? What are the political, cultural, economic and historical values that have contributed to its current international relations position? Your purpose is not to determine whose “side” your country is on but to understand and explain why your country has its particular international relations position. More specifically: you are building a case to explain why your selected country takes the position in international relations it does on particular issues. You are not just stating what those positions are.
Begin by selecting a country that interests you. Perhaps it is one that you have traveled to or would like to travel to. Since not all countries are concerned about all international issues, you will need to determine what world issues your country cares about. You will be providing these positions later in your paper. It is your job to present the motive of your selected country for taking those positions from its perspective. You are presenting the “why” of the case such that if you present your case well, it will seem obvious, given the characteristics of your selected country, that it would take the positions it has. You may find yourself disagreeing with the actions and positions of the country you are studying, but this is not a critique of what is right or wrong from your perspective, so you want to be careful to keep such commentary out of your paper. You are only interested in providing the reasons your selected country has for doing what it
does, whether you agree with these reasons or not.
This paper takes planning, and it will be well worth taking the time to outline your arguments before writing. I suggest that you consider many academic sources before writing. Be careful with your sources: Wikipedia, newspaper stories, and country websites, while helpful for introductory purposes, don’t provide the substantive analytical content that your paper requires.
The paper should be 3-4 pages long, 12-point font, typewritten, and double-spaced, and must include citations to all references used. Please use APA format and cite 4-5 sources. Failure to include in-text citations will result in the deduction of ten points from your grade on this paper. Also, please use only third person pronouns.
Paper 2--Final Research Paper
Final (Second) Research Papers (a WIC paper): Due at the beginning of class 10
You should take a position on an international political topic and support this position. Essays should be focused and well-organized. Use several sources: books, journals/magazines, newspapers, the internet, and cite them in APA format. Please avoid using all first- and second-person pronouns. Here is a possible way of organizing your paper.
I. Introduction with thesis, i.e. your main argument
II. Historical Background/Context
III. Your argument, with examples/cases and/or logical reasoning to back up your points
IV. Counter-arguments: write as if critiquing your own argument to locate flaws and opposing points
V. Synthesis/Conclusion: Answer potential criticism. Explain the final points of your argument. What have you learned? What has your paper explained?
This paper should be 3-4 pages long and you should cite 4-5 different sources. Be sure to include in-text citations, or 10 points will be deducted.
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